Mallorca break Espanyol jinx

Mallorca’s Uruguayan midfielder Chori Castro fails to score the seventh-minute penalty [AFP]

Real Mallorca broke a decade-long jinx to record a crucial first away win at Espanyol with a 2-1 comeback win in Spain’s Primera Division on Tuesday.

Second half goals from Mallorca’s Pierre Webo and Emilio Nsue ensured Espanyol’s European Champions League aspirations suffered yet another setback, as the Barcelona-based side let slip a one-goal advantage.

Espanyol remain fifth in the league with 40 points from 26 games, seven short of fourth-placed Villarreal, and that elusive Champions League spot. Athletic Bilbao, who sit two points behind in sixth, can move above them with a win at Real Zaragoza on Wednesday.

For Mallorca it was only their third away win of the season as they move four points off the top six.

Early penalty

With just seven minutes gone Mallorca won a penalty with centre-back Jordi Amat clipping Webo in the box.

Chori Castro stepped up but goalkeeper Carlos Kameni guessed the right way and got down low to palm away the spot-kick.

A minute later Espanyol went down the other end and Jose Callejon crashed a shot against the post in a thrilling opening.

The hosts got the breakthrough on 18 minutes with Mallorca getting their offside trap horribly wrong as Vazquez bent his run before keeping a cool head to slot home.

Mallorca thought they had equalised on the half hour mark but Webo’s header was harshly ruled out for offside.

Results & fixtures

Tuesday March 1  Espanyol 1-2 Mallorca  Sevilla 3-0 Gijon Wednesday March 2  Getafe v Atl Madrid  Osasuna v Deportivo  Sociedad v Levante  Zaragoza v Athl Bilbao  Villarreal v Hercules  Valencia v Barcelona Thursday March 3  Almeria v Santander  Real v Malaga

Livewire Webo got the goal his performance deserved with a header to level the scores just after the hour mark.

Winger Nsue then popped up with a late 82nd minute winner as Mallorca took the spoils.

Tough trip

Barcelona have a tough trip to third-placed Valencia on Wednesday as they bid to stretch their seven-point lead over Real Madrid.

“Going back to a seven point lead is not important, because there are lots of points at stake,” said Barcelona defender Dani Alves.

“Collectively we’re better than them (Real Madrid) and if we carry on like we are we’ll meet our objectives.”

It will be a special game for Barcelona striker David Villa who returns to Valencia for the first time since his 55 million dollar move in the summer.

Real Madrid host lowly Malaga on Thursday looking to bounce back from their disappointing 0-0 draw at Deportivo La Coruna with a 13th win at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Malaga, second from bottom of the table, are coached by former Real boss Manuel Pellegrini who managed the club last season but a club record 96 points saw them finish runners-up to Barcelona and the Chilean was axed.